Improvement in clothes-pounders



' M. P. OOLVIN. Clothes-Founder.

No. 202,792. Patented April 23, I878.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

MARGARET P. GOLVIN, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOTHES-POUNDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 202,792, dated April-23, 1878 application filed January 26, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARGARET P. OoLvnv, of Battle Creek, in the countyof Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Clothes-Founders; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make anduse it, reference bcin g had to the accompanying drawings, which formpart of this specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in clothes-pounders; andconsists in forming the bottom of the pounder with three conical shells,which decrease in size from the outer to the inner one, the rims of thelatter being connected together by inclined braces, said inner shellbeing formed on the lower extremity of the pounder-shaft, which latteris made tubular, and is provided with a free gravity valve formedwithout a stem, and which is adapted to be maintained in aproperoperative position by an open valve-casing.

This invention is designed to provide a pounder which, acting as awashing device, will serve to cleanse the clothes thoroughly, and willalso be durable in use, as the rim of he shell formation on the shaftconstitutes a very firm support for the attachment of the inner ends ofthe inclined braces, which latter connect with the rim of the outershell.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view, in vertical section,representing my invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom perspective view. Fig. 3is a detail view of the cap-piece of the tubular shaft, showing thevalve mechanism.

The two main conical shells A and B are suitably formed, and secured soas to be rigid with the body of the pounder-shaft, as shown, while theinner conical shell 0 is secured rigidly to the extreme lower extremityof the shaft, and has soldered or otherwise fastened to its rim thebraces D, which latter incline downward and outward to the rim of theouter shell, where their corresponding extremities are similarlyfastened. The rim of the middle shell bears against the said braces, andmay be either secured rigidly thereto, the same as in the case of theouter and inner shells, or may be without such rigid engagement, andsimply have free contact therewith.

The relative sizes of these several shells may be immaterially changed,if desired, so that the two main shells may not be so much larger thanthe shell formed on the lower extremity of the shaft as shown in thedraw ings, but the present size of the parts well answers my purpose. Inthis manner three annular spaces are provided in the bottom of thepounder, which respectively serve their purpose in the operation ofwashing the clothes. The two which are inclosed on their outer sides bythe main shells receive the suds and also a small volume of compressedair, as the pounder is on its downstroke, while the inner shell receivesthe great proportion of the confined air, and passes the latter up intothe tubular shaft. In this manner the latter shell accomplishes a resultadditional to that which it performs as a strong support for the innerextremities of theinclinedbraces. Thearchedshaped construction of thecontinuous or constant side forms a support well adapted for this latterpurpose.

The tubular shaft E, whose lower extremity connects directly with theclear open space inclosed by the conical shell formed thereon, isprovided at its top with the cap-piece F, which latter may be secured inany suitable manner, permanently or detachably, thereto. The lower sideof this cap-piece serves as a valve-seat for the free gravity-valve f,which is made without a stem, and is adapted to rise and fall within theopen valve-casing g. This valve is made as a flat metallic disk, free toclose or open its valve, governing opening in the cap-piece of the shaftcorrespondingly with the action of the atmosphere upon it in theoperation of pounding. The tubular passage of the cap-piece is smallerin diameter than that of the main shaft, and as the pounder is on itsdownstroke, the action of the suds-water and clothes upon the airinclosed within the concave open bottom of the pounder forces it upward.The inner conical shell formed on the lower extremity of the shaftreceives the great proportion of this air, and from thence passes it upinto the tubular shaft. The

air thus compressed raises the described valve and closes all means ofescape except by passage down and out through the clothes along Thispermeation the rim of the outer shell.

of the compressed air through the clothes serves to disintegrate thedirt therefrom, cleanses the fabrics by passage through them, andprepares them to allow the suds to readily clean them of all soil. Thereturn or upward movement of the pounder causes the valve to be droppedby the impact of the atmosphere upon its upper surface, and the tubularshaft is again filled with air, the concave bottom of the pounder isrefilled with air, and the pounder is ready to repeat the sameoperation.

I do not broadly claim apounder constructed with conical shellsconnected together by inclined braces at their lower rims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

MARGARET PLUNKET GOLVIN.

Witnesses:

CLARENCE J. PAUL, ALBT. C. KINGMAN.

